Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Java Java Basics Getting Started with Java Strings, Variables, and Formatting

Please help with this printf

If you just give the answer that’s fine, Or tell me what’s wrong PLEASE.

Name.java
// I have setup a java.io.Console object for you named console
String firstName = "James";
console.printf(firstName, "can code in Java!");

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,184 Points

The Preview button can be helpful, and for this code it prints out "James" (and nothing else).

The printf method is expecting a template as a first argument, which can contain substitution tokens for places to fill in using additional arguments.

If you need a refresher you can take a look at this portion of the previous video.

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,184 Points

A "template" is the same thing as a "format string". The substitution tokens are codes like "%s" to represent where you'ld like a string to be plugged in. There are other codes for other kinds of values. The video calls these "format specifiers".

If you've resolved your original issue, you can mark a question solved by choosing a "best answer".
And happy coding!

Thanks a lot! What is a template? What are sub tokens?